Inclined former

ABSTRACT

A papermaking machine wherein stock is discharged from a stationary headbox for deposit on a web forming wire having a reach adjacent the headbox which is variable and selectively inclined upwardly between a lower rearward breast roll toward an upper forward wire roll with a suction box assembly mounted with respect to and beneath the upwardly inclined reach there being provided a plurality of pairs of selectively employable side pond plate extensions of differing dimensions, each side pond plate extension of a pair being mounted in overlapping relation with a respective side wall of the headbox and in a tight sealed relationship with the suction box assemble and its supported inclined reach of the forming wire for accommodating the headbox to different angular positions for adjustment of the inclined reach of the forming wire.

Jilin H5; M. KELLER 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MARTIN B. KELLER WW 6CZZMMW ATTORNEYS.

INCLINED FORMER Filed May 27, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MARTIN BKELLER ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,785,922 INCLINED FORMER Martin B. Keller, HudsonFalls, N.Y., assignor to Sandy Hill Corporation, Hudson Falls, N.Y.Filed May 27, 1970, Ser. No. 41,004

Int. Cl. D21f 1/24 U.S. Cl. 162-299 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA papermaking machine wherein stock is discharged from a stationaryheadbox for deposit on a web forming wire having a reach adjacent theheadbox which is variably and selectively inclined upwardly between alower rearward breast roll toward an upper forward wire roll with asuction box assembly mounted with respect to and beneath the upwardlyinclined reach, there being provided a plurality of pairs of selectivelyemployable side pond plate extensions of dilfereing dimensions, eachside pond plate extension of a pair being mounted in overlappingrelation with a respective side wall of the headbox and in a tightsealed relationship with the suction box assembly and its supportedinclined reach of the forming wire for accommodating the headbox todifferent angular positions of adjustment of the inclined reach of theforming wire.

The invention relates to equipment for the formation of sheet-like websof fibers incorporating an endless forming wire having an inclinablereach and a cooperant stationary stock flow control mechanismaccommodating a large volume of an aqueous suspension of fibers fordelivery onto the wire.

The invention accommodates the stationary headbox to any of a series ofadjustable positions assumed by an inclined reach of the endless formingwire in its extension between a rearward and lowerbreast roll and aforward and upper Wire roll by means of interchangeable side pond plateextensions serving as extensions to the respective side walls of theheadbox. Each side pond plate extension is mounted upon a respectiveheadbox side wall so as to be positionable with respect to therespective side of the inclined reach of the wire, with the selectedpair of side pond plate extensions employed at a partciular time of usebeing according to the particular angle of inclination of the wire forthe particular type of machine use envisioned.

The upwardly inclined reach of the wire is the web forming means andtravels upwardly at a variable angle during passage through the webforming zone with the suspension of fibers being delivered onto itsupper surface. Normal usage of the machine envisions that one or moresuspensions will be delivered from a single compartment or a pluralityof different compartments of the flow control mechanism to the wirethrough a slice or discharge orifice or through a plurality of slices,as the case may be. The stock discharged upon the wire drains by meansof vacuum or gravity on the under side of the wire so as to leave alayer or layers of fibers upon the upper planar surface of the wire.

The invention represents a compromise between the Fourdrinier andcylinder types of papermaking machine. Herewith, the speed and Webdensity capabilities of the Fourdrinier machine are achieved in amachine having the compactness of a cylinder machine. The stock isflowed onto the inclined forming wire from above from a headbox, and thedraining of the water therefrom is freely through the wire as by freefall or by various arrangements of suction boxes under the inclinedreach. The inclined reach of the wire, being adjustable, allows adisposition at different angles of inclination in order to accommodateto greater control of web formation on the one hand and of waterdrainage on the other hand.

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There are several basic reasons for inclining a reach of the formingwire.

The use of extremely low consistencies of stock is made possible, samebeing a necessary condition for the formation of webs from syntheticfibers and for the formation of so-called non-woven types of sheets. Theinclined forming wire and the cooperant stationary headbox offer a waterhandling capability which is far in excess of the capability of theconventional Fourdinier machine with the horizontally disposed formingwire or of the well known cylinder machine.

Also, the stock flow velocity during the entire formation can beelfectively controlled, a feature which is impossible to realize on thehorizontal Fourdrinier or the cylinder types of machine.

Too, the space requirement is drastically reduced in comparison to thehorizontal Fourdrinier machine. Because of the increased capacity forhandling large volumes of water, the web formation takes place over adistance of 24-36 inches as opposed to 1215 feet on a horizontal wire.

By using different angular positions of the forming wire, differentsheet characteristics are obtainable with respect to fiber orientation.The length-to-across fiber ratio can be variously changed with thedifferent angular positions. The proportion of vertical fibers in thesheet can also be varied, resulting in differing bulk factors or volumesof the sheets for-med therewith. Too, the forming length can be changedby changing the degree of inclination, all thereby affecting sheetcompactness.

Great flexibility is thus olfered in that the degree of angularity ofthe inclined reach of the Wire may be varied within a considerable rangeto accommodate to dilferent papermaking situations and the headbox canbe accordingly organized by way of modification thereof as to adjust tothose various positions of angularity, all without altering thepositioning of, or the modus operandi of, the headbox.

By the invention, there is provided a machine unique in the industrybecause of its small size, high speed of operation, great versatilityand accuracy of control with regard to the products it makes and highefficiency of operation, all of which result from its unique structure.

In my earlier Pat. No. 3,384,537, means was taught for producing a webor non-woven sheet-like structure of diversified fiber content, samebeing formed through one type of aqueous dispersion of fibers deliveredat one stage as a base layer, and, while such base layer remains in asuificiently fluid condition, depositing thereupon, through a secondstage, another dispersion of fibers, which may be of the same ordifferent type, in manner such that the fibers of the secondary layerare bonded to the fibers of the base layer so as to form a coherent web.And if desired, with such coherent web being newly-formed upon the wire,there may be deposited thereonto, at still another stage, anotheruniform dispersion of fibers, which may be of a type the same as ordifferent from the types used in the cases of the base and/or secondarylayers, and again in manner such that wet fiber intermingling isassured.

Pressure may be controlled within the approach passage by way ofadjustments of a pond regulator with reference to its proximity to theinclined wire. The closer the pond regulator to the forming surface, thenarrower the discharge, and accordingly, the greater the fiow velocityapplied in the forming area for any given gallonage or quantity of flow.Such greater forming velocity induces a greater degree of drainage inthe available forming area on the wire so that more dilute stocks may beused and heavier webs may be produced. The formation of a web havingimproved profile is thus made possible, due to the fact that the web isformed from a pond, with formation being controllable by drainage rateon the wire rather than by control of fiber concentration in the slurry.

In this invention, the headbox design may be such that it comprises asingle stock distributing device or a plurality of stock distributingdevices.

The principal feature of the present invention, which distinguishes itfrom the prior art is that it allows compensation for the selectivity ofadjustment of the angle of inclination of the wire. Because of theproblem presented by the fact that the headbox is a stationary componentof the machine, it will be appreciated that the spacing between theheadbox and the inclined reach of the wire varies, as wire inclinationis variably achieved. Obviously, means must be provided in the nature ofwhat are here described as head box side pond plate extensions onopposite sides of the machine to insure a sealed closure of the headboxwith respect to the forming wire, i.e. the space, on each side of themachine, between the lower surfaces of the headbox side walls and thetops of the suction boxes and the sides of the wire, extending generallyforwardly from the breast roll at the lower extremity of the inclinedreach toward the wire roll at the upper extremity of the inclined reach,such space being different dimensionally with each different position ofinclination of the Wire supporting assembly.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view, in side elevation, of the tending side of an exemplarymachine which may be utilized to carry out the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1.

There is shown, in simplified version, the wet end of the web formingmachine, and having certain elements and instrumentalities which are oldand Well-known and accordingly not shown in any great detail.

The machine is supported upwardly of a flooring by means of a side frameon each of the tending and driving sides of the machine, which sideframes are stationarily mounted, adjacent their opposite ends, onpedestals 12.

On the upper face of the inboard end of each side frame 10, a bearingblock 14 is mounted for pivotally supporting, at 16, the inboard end ofan inclinable side or table rail 18, which side rail may mount at itsrearward extremity a suitable bearing block 20 for the journalling of abreast roll 22 extending transversely of the machine between the pair ofbearing blocks.

The breast roll is thus seen to be traversible through an are projectedfrom pivot 16 as it assumes various positions of adjustment according tothe angularization or inclination of inclinable side rail 18.

On the upper face of each side frame 10, distantly and outboard ofbearing block 14, a suitable mechanical jacking mechanism 26 ispivotally mounted at 27, with its free end being pivotally engaged at 28with the respective side rail 18 for purposes of raising or lowering theoutboard end of the side rail and hence controlling the angularizationthereof between a lower position of say 10 from the horizontal plane toan upper position of say 50 from the horizontal plane.

Side rail 18 mounts at its forward extremity a bracket bearing block 30for the journalling of a wire roll 32 which extends transversely of themachine between the pair of bearing blocks. Wire roll 32 is thus seen tobe traversible through an are projected from pivot 16 as it assumesvarious positions of adjustment according to the inclination of siderail 18 as determined by jacking mechanism'26.

A suction box subassembly 40 is stationarily mounted between andrelative to opposite side rails 18 by any suitable mounting means so asto define an upper wire supporting surface spaced upwardly of the siderails. Being so mounted, the suction box subassembly is inclinableunitarily with the side rails.

An endless forming wire 50 is entrained around breast roll 22 and wireroll 32 and additionally around a couch roll 52, journalled in a bearingblock 54 supported by a pedestal 56 at the delivery end of the machine,with the upper or working run of the wire moving in the direction ofarrow a, and with the return run of the Wire being guided over a firstreturn roll 58, a guide roll 60, an adjustable stretch roll 62, anadjustable guide roll 64, and an adjustable take-up roll 66, alloperative in known manner. Wire change is easily provided for by theusual release adjustments provided for in the various rolls.

The elevating of each side rail 18 is controlled by the operation of itsrespective jacking mechanism 26 which operates in unison with itscorresponding member on the opposite side of the machine whereby theside rails are adjusted unisonly to the desired degree of inclinationrela-' tive to the horizontal and hence to position the inclined reachof wire 50 between breast roll 22 and wire roll 32 at any desired anglealong which it will travel over the suction boxes and suction rolldisposed therebelow.

The compartments of the suction box subassembly dump into the save-allpan in which a liquid level of desired height may be maintained. Anyvacuum within any compartments being thereby connected to an enclosedcompartment, it eflfects a pull on the white Water through the wire aswell as an upward pull on the white water in the save-all pan so asthereby to seal such vacuum compartment.

Stationarily supported upwardly of the floor by suitable pedestals is aheadbox generally indicated by 82 constituted by transversely-spacedvertically-disposed side Walls 84, interconnected by avertically-disposed rearward end wall 86 and by an inclined bottom wall90 having its forward extremity terminating adjacent breast roll 22, allto define a pond therewithin cooperant with the uppermost formingsurface of the upwardly-inclined reach of forming wire 50.

An inlet means 92 is provided transversely of the width of the headboxfor delivering via a single conduit or via a multiplicity of spacedapart conduits into the lower end of a throat 94 of the headbox a slurryof fibers from a source of suppl (not shown).

A rectifying roll 96 may be provided in the throat of the headbox and anadjustable dam 98 may be provided for the control of excess overflow andrecirculation through a recirculation conduit 100 fitted throughrearward end wall 86.

Disposed within headbox 82 may be a first pond regulator 100 constitutedby transversely-spaced verticallydisposed side Walls interconnected byvertically-disposed spaced forward and rearward end walls extendingtherebetween and acting cooperantly with the adjacent portion of theuppermost forming surface of the upwardly-inclined reach of wire 50 andthe adjacent of the headbox walls to define the bounding walls of afirst pond 102 within the headbox and a first slice 104 defined bybottom wall of the first pond regulator and bottom wall of the headbox.

Also disposed within headbox 82 may be a second pond regulator forwardlyof first pond regulator 100 and similarly constituted to define a secondpond 112 and a second slice 114.

Also disposed within headbox 82 may be a third pond regulator forwardlyof the first and second pond regulators and similarl constituted todefine with the sleiolond pond regulator a third pond 122 and a thirdslice The assembly responsible and necessary for the adjustment of thewire slope and accordingly the forming area between breast roll 22 andwire roll 32 comprises the side or table rails 18 which support all ofthe machine elements (breast roll 22, suction box subassembly 40,suction roll 68, and wire roll 32) inside of the forming wire, the wirebeing raised or lowered by jacking mechanism 26 around pivot 16 onbearing block 14.

Suction box subassembly 40, constituting the main drainage control unit,maybe compartmented into as many compartments as practical to comprise,in essence, a plurality of suction boxes arranged in echelon and eachbeing individually and selectively maintained in a free fallorgravitational state (conceivably all of the boxes could be free fallunits) or under a state of controlled vacuum (conceivably all of theboxes could be vacuum boxes) or under a state of throttle by means of arotating butterfly or sliding valve wherein the water may be choked soas to hold it back from gushing through the wire and thereby todiminishits flow for-purposes of achieving a deferred drainage(throttled boxes would normally be employed before any free fall orvacuum boxes in point of echeloning).

Various combinations of arrangements of boxes of these various typesmaybe employed according to the particular results in formed paper whichare desired.

Immediately below suction box subassembly 40, a save-all pan 78 isdisposed, into which any free water draining from the wire may bedischarged, wherefrom it may be delivered to'the driving side and passedthrough suitable ducting for reuse.

The bottom edges of side walls 84 of the headbox may be disposedimmediately above and adjacent the upwardly inclined reach of wire 50,same being in close running proximity to the forward end of the bottomwall of the headbox, which forward end is forwardly-facing andlaterally-extending across the wire width in manner to constitute anapron related to the breast roll and wire so as to define the lower wallof first slice 104.

The means for accommodating stationary headbox 82 of any of a series ofadjustable positions assumed by the inclined reach of forming wire 50extending between rearward and lower breast roll 22 and forward andupper wire roll 32 is in the form of interchangeable pairs of side pondplate extensions 130 which serve as extensions to the respective sidewalls of the headbox, there being a right hand extension for the tendingside and a left hand extension for the driving side in the case of eachpair.

The bottom edges 134 of side walls 84 of the headbox are fixed, theheadbox being stationary, so that as each side rail 18 is pivoted onpivotal connection 16 on respective side frame as jacking mechanism 26causes the side rail and its supported suction box subassembly and thereach of the endless wire between breast roll 22 and wire roll 32 toincline in greater or lesser degree, the space between the headbox andthe side rails is varied dimensionally.

For example, with the side rails being lowered from the inclinedposition shown in FIG. 1, the space between the headbox and the siderails will be seen to be enlarged wherefore a new pair of side pondplate extensions 130 of greater dimensions will be required to insureenclosure of the headbox with respect to the side rails.

Suppose that it is anticipated that, in a given machine, the inclinedreach will be inclined at six different positions of angularizationduring six different papermaking situations, say inclined at 10, and

Accordingly, six sets of pairs of side pond plate extensions would beprovided with the machine, one pair being used for each specificsituation. There may be provided with each machine as many pairs of sidepond plate extensions as anticipated positions of inclination to be usedwith the machine.

In modifying the headbox to a given situation, the pair of side pondplate extensions on the headbox are removed and a new pair ofappropriate dimensions are substituted therefor.

Thereby, each side pond plate extension of each pair thereof isselectively mounted upon the respective headbox side wall so as to bepositionable with respect to the corners of the suction boxes and theinclined reach of the wire, thereby to close off whatever space isgenerated between the headbox and the suction boxes and the in- 6 clinedreach of the wire as the wire inclining mechanism is elevated or loweredto position. the inclined wire at the desired degree of inclination.

Each side pond plate extension is preferentially recessed to provide ashoulder 132 which may be brought into snug tight fitting relationshipwith bottom edge 134 of a side wall 84 of headbox 82.

Aligned openings may be provided in the side pond plate extension andthe headbox side wall for suitable bolting 136 whereby the componentsmay be securely interengaged.

The side pond plate extension is suitably dimensioned so as to be spacedslightly upwardly of the top planar surface of the cover of suction boxsubassembly 40 and outboard of any opening 140 through the cover as wellas outboard of the adjacent outer edge of wire 50.

A sealing lip 142 in the form of an elongated strip of yieldablematerial, such as rubber or the like, is secured to the outboard side ofthe side pond plate extension as by bolting 144 to define a lowermostedge portion 146 extending downwardly below the lower edge thereof adistance sufficient to provide a lowermost surface which will seat ontop planar surface 138 of the cover of the suction box subassembly.

The seal insures a perfectly tight seal between the headbox and thesides of the forming wire without the undesirable effect of the sealmaterial being subject to abrasion by the forming wire and concomitantlywithout the undesirable effect of the forming wire suffering abrasionfrom the seal material, while simultaneously eliminating the undesirableeffects of fiber bundles accumulating in the area between the formingwire and the seal with consequent freedom from the avalanche effects assuch bundles periodically break loose so as to have damaging effects onthe formed web.

This is achieved by the stationary seal on the stationary suction boxcover and separating the forming area width from the seal area so as notto have drainage and stock thickening effects in the seal area.

Having described only a typical form of the invention, I do not wish tobe limited to the specific details or precise form herein set forth, butwish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that mayappear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a papermaking machine including an inclined web forming assemblyhaving a longitudinally spaced breast roll and wire roll and an endlessdriven forming wire looped over the breast roll and wire roll and asupport structure supporting the breast roll at a first elevation andthe wire roll at a variable elevation higher than the first elevation ofthe breast roll disposing a portion of the upper run of the wire at anangle of incline upwardly from the breast roll toward the wire roll anda stationary headbox having side and end walls for containing pulptherein under a head and a slice discharge for discharging pulp from theslice under the pressure of the head onto the inclined run of theforming wire and transverse thereto, the improvement in a means foraccommodating to the adjustment of the support structure relative to theheadbox and comprising a plurality of pairs of selectively employableheadbox side wall plate extensions of differing dimensions, each plateextension of a pair being mounted in over-lapping relation with arespective side wall of the headbox and in a tight sealed relationshipwith the support structure and its supported inclined run of the wirefor accommodating the headbox to different angular positions ofadjustment of the inclined run of the wire.

2. In a web forming machine having a short endless forming wireentrained over a breast and wire and couch rolls with a portion of thetravel of the wire in an upwardly inclined direction from and betweenthe breast and wire rolls and with means for elevating and lowering thewire roll with reference to the breast roll for varying the angle ofinclination of the forming wire and a stationary flow box formaintaining a pond of diluted fiber and for supplying the diluted fiberto the rforming wire during the upward travel of the forming wire, theimprovement in means for accommodating the headbox to any of a series ofadjustable positions assumed by the inclined portion of the forming wirein its extension comprising interchangeable side pond plate extensionsmounted as extensions to the respective side walls of the headbox, eachside pond plate extension being mounted upon a respective headbox sidewall so as to be positionable with respect to the respective side of theinclined reach of the wire, with the selected pair of side pond plateextensions employed at a particular time of use according to theparticular angle of inclination of the forming wire, and sealing meansmounted on each side pond plate extension for tightly sealing the spacebetween the headbox and forming wire without the seal being abraded bythe forming wire or the forming wire being abraded by the seal.

3. In a web forming machine including an endless Fourdrinier wire havingan upwardly-inclined run and a stationary headbox including a pluralityof stock compartments each having an inlet end for receiving a stream ofa liquid slurry containing fibrous elements from a supply source and anoutlet end for discharging the liquid slurry upon the wire andindividual means for supplying a stream of a liquid slurry to eachcompartment with the wire being disposed below the headbox and theupwardlyinclined run being disposed in confronting relationship with theplurality of theoutlet ends of the headbox and with means for variablyadjusting the angular position of the inclined run of the wirewith'respect to the headbox, the improvement comprising: means ifOIaccommodating the dimensions of the headbox to the diflerent attitudesof inclination assumed by the forming wire in the form of pairs ofselectively employable side pond plate extensions of differingdimensions being mounted in seriatim in relationship to the headbox andthe run of the wire, each extension of a pair thereof being in seritatimmounted to a side wall of the headbox for enclosing the gap between theside wall of the headbox and the upwardly-inclined run of the wireaccording to the dimensions of the gap as determined by the degree ofinclination of the wire. 1

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1968 Keller '1 623 x 8/1931Hinkson 162- 346 X US. Cl. X.R.

